Media Alert - Edmonton panelists to discuss rare disease strategy to support 3 million Canadians

EDMONTON, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) through a series of Economic Club of Canada luncheons will be discussing the urgent need to implement Canada's Rare Disease Strategy.

In Canada, disability and death due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes have dropped by 50% and more over the past 20 to 50 years due in large part to world-class national strategies.  At the same time, Canadians with rare diseases still struggle to access timely and appropriate care, resulting in unnecessary delays in testing, wrong diagnoses, children with physical and mental developmental challenges, and premature death. Canada lags behind more than 35 other countries that have already put in place national plans for rare diseases.  We call upon all Canadians to join us in implementing Canada's Rare Disease Strategy to give the same hope and treatment to patients with rare diseases as provided to Canadians with common conditions and other patients with rare diseases around the world.

WHO:	Panelists:
	Durhane Wong-Rieger, President & CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders
	Edward Gudaitis, General Manager, Gilead Sciences Canada Inc. (Gilead Alberta ULC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, Inc.)
	Ian M. MacDonald MSc, MD, CM, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta
	Moderator:
	Mr. Fred Horne, Former Minister of Health, Alberta
WHAT:	Panel discussion: "A Rare Disease Strategy for All Canadians"
WHEN:	Wednesday, October 7, 2015
	11:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m.         1:30 p.m.	Guest/media registration begins Panel discussion  Event concludes
WHERE:	The Westin Edmonton
	10135-100 Street
	Edmonton, AB T5J 0N7
	Follow the panel discussion on Twitter: #Canada4Rare

SOURCE The Economic Club of Canada

To confirm attendance or for more information about the event, please contact: Sophie LaPointe, The Economic Club of Canada, O: 416.306.0899